I don't think my chickens are eating their layer pellets.

[CarolynPerth]

I forgot to add that feeling crops is good. But mine free range and sometimes they have huge crops and I wonder if it's from all the sand and dirt they eat while grazing.

is there any good way to know your birds are getting enough feed?

 

[Jody]

I wish they'd let me catch them and hold them so I actually can feel the crop. They allow me to sit next to them, but the second I go to pet one or pick one up they run away.

 

[l'abeille]

Ella (or anybody).

How do you feel their crop? Where is it? I also have a hard time getting my chickens to let me pick them up, but I hope that gets easier as they get used to me.

 

[CarolynPerth]

Ella (or anybody).

How do you feel their crop? Where is it? I also have a hard time getting my chickens to let me pick them up, but I hope that gets easier as they get used to me.

I have to corner a couple of mine that are more shy but usually if I really want to catch one I throw an old sheet over it. I think its by far the best way to catch any type of bird that may be injured or flighty.

UsuallyI find it's just a matter of being bold and taking the bird by surprise, they bob down with wings slightly held away from the body and I grab them by the "elbows" . Always keep their wings tucked under your arm and hold firmly so they don't injure themselves (or you! a flapping wing has quite a punch if it gets your nose). Avoid holding around the abdomen where you might injure the egg laying organs or liver and don't let them get a foothold either.

The crop is located around the front of the chest, imagine a bag that gets filledwith food before it is sent to the stomach. This is an illustration kindly provided by another forum member, eggcetra_farms.

The crop allows a bird to stock up on available food quickly and digest it later or regurgitate it to feed chicks in the nest.​

 

[ella]

Wait until after dark when they're on thier roost. That's the best time because: 1) they are calm and easy to catch, 2) a normal healthy chicken will have gorged getting ready for bed. Only those that are getting bullied or having some difficulty will have empty or nearly empty crops.

The pic is great for showing where it is. Just feel around on their front side if you can't find it it's empty. If it's full you WILL be able to find it.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Mine do not like pellets they like crumbles, to keep them from wasting it I make it into a mash.

 

[ella]

Hi, Carolynperth, if they have feed available they will prefer it over dirt unless there is something really wrong with it. They seem really dumb, but they can take surprisingly good care of themselves. When you see them out in the rain getting soaked or in the feezing cold pecking at dirt you have your questions, but over all they can really take care of themselves.

You can check weight by feeling the meat on either side of their keel bone. Most layers aren't real meaty but they should have some flesh there. If they have no flesh at all and if they feel really light and insubstantal when you pick them up means they're not getting enough.

 

[Raven27]

I have had 3 hens for a couple months fed them maybe once every two weeks the layer ration. Didn't eat much either.But then again they were not laying.Picked up 15 more hens already laying and they finished the bag in a day .now I'm wondering if they eat too much. crazy chickens.

I bought some scratch which they don't touch it looks like pure grain no corn.

 

[CarolynPerth]

Thanks Ella, I had a feeling layers would not be too meaty. I have a bunch of begging hens hanging around my door right now, they sound so pathetic borrrrrrrrrrr burrrrrrrrrrr berrrrrr like "pleeeease feeeeed usssss". They have plenty of scratch (didn't know it was called that until now) and pellets but they want treats

Think I spoiled them. I only give treats once a day now and always in the coop. The rest of the time they have access to quality layer feed and they scratch about in the garden. But they still beg

Overeasyplz, I am making pellets into a mash but I've started adding dry pellets on top and I'll increase the amount until they get the idea and I can be sure they will eat straight pellets.

 

[l'abeille]

CarolynPerth--thx for the explanation and great schematic. That was a great help!